Creasing-machine.



J. S. HANSEN. C'RE'ASING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1912f 2 SHEETS-E3HEBT 1.

Patented Feb; 2, 1915.

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i/V/T/VESSES Fig.1.

ZZJZM TH: NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHUTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D C.

J. S. HANSEN.

GREASING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APRJM, 1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTA/ESZSES M a. W

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. 4..

NITEI) STA'IJLLLIENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. IIANSEN, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 0. .A. MILLER TREEING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CREASING-MACI-IINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed April 27, 1912. Serial No. 693,652.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. HANSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Creasing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and more particularly to machines for creasing the vamps of shoes; that is, forming a series of transverse creases in the shoe vamp just back of the toe cap. In the machines employed for this purpose prior to this invention, the creasing operation has usually been performed by placing the vamp between a pair of complemental dies and applying pressure to these dies. In these machines the dies usually, if not universally, have been operated manually. IVhile such machines have been found satisfactory for many purposes, as for instance, in retail stores or in small shoe factories, they are open to the objection that they require the expenditure of much labor on the part of the workman in order properly to crease the vamp and that a permanent crease can be made in the vamp only by subjecting it to the action of the dies for a. considerable time. The present invention aims to overcome these objections, and to this end it provides a machine in which power driven mechanism is utilized for operating the dies. The invention further provides means by which a relative rubbing motion is given to the dies during their operation upon the work. In the prior machines, as above stated, the work has merely been pressed between the dies. I find, however, that by giving the dies a relative rubbing motion while they are pressed upon the vamp, they iron the stock into the grooves in the dies and set it to the shape of the dies so firmly that a permanent crease is produced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved heating means for the dies. In the machines commonly used heretofore, provision usually has been made for heating only the upper die, that is the die acting upon the outside face of the vamp.

In treating some kinds of stock, however, as for instance certain colored leathers, it is impossible to use a heated upper die for the reason that the heat discolors the dressed surface of the leather; and in operating upon such leathers, therefore, the dies usually have been unheated. Heat, however, is a very valuable agent in producing a permanent crease; and the present invention provides means by which either or both of the dies may be heated. The lining of the shoe, of course, protects the vamp from direct contact with the lower die; and consequently, in operating upon shoes having upper stock that would be injured by coming in direct contact with a hot die, the upper die should be left to cool while the lower die may be heated, thus obtaining the advantages of heat in performing this operation but avoiding any injury to theshoe.

Other features of the invention will appear hereinafter and will be included in the appended claims.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the means for supporting and heating the dies; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the more important parts of the operating mechanism; and Fig. l is a perspective view of the dies.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises an upper power driven die 2 designed to operate upon the outer surface of the vamp, and a lower die at designed to be inserted within the shoe to cooperate with the upper die. The faces of these dies are each curved convexly in the arc of a circle and are provided with complemental creases and ridges of suitable shape to produce the desired impression upon the stock. The lower die is stationary during the vamp creasing operation but is arranged for movement into and out of operative relationship to the upper die in order to enable the workman to place the shoe readily in position for the dies to operate thereon and to remove the shoe conveniently from the machine after the operation is completed. For this purpose the lower die is mounted on the end of a curved horn or support 6; and the horn is crumed in the'machine frame and is forked at its forward end, each member of the fork being slotted to receive a pin 17 projecting laterally from the horn. At its rearward end-the lever is connected by a rod 18 to a foot treadle 20. A long spiral spring 22 has one end secured to the forward end of the treadle 20; and a chain 24, connected to the upper end of this spring, runs over a pulley 26 rotatably mounted on a stud projecting from the machine frame, and is fastened at its other end to a second foot treadle 28. It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 that, when the treadle 28 is depressed, the forward end of the treadle 20 will be raised yieldingly through the connections 24 and 22, thus depressing the rearward end of the lever 16 and lifting the lower die 4 yieldingly into contact with its cooperating die 2. A spring 29 having its ends attached respectively to the frame 10 and lever 16 tends to move the die 4 downwardly out of contact with the die 2 when the treadle 28 is released; but in case the horn sticks, the treadle 20 may be depressed to move the horn into its lowered position.

The power driven die 2 is given a combined rubbing and rocking motion over the die 4, in the plane of the creases of the cooperating dies. For this purpose the die 2 is fixed to the forward end of a shaft 30 which is rotatably supported in the hub of a segment gear 32 and in a disk 34. Both the members 32 and 34 are freely rotatable on a stationary shaft 36 which is clamped in bearings 38. The shaft 30 also has fixed thereto a pair of gears 40 which mesh with two stationary gears 42 fast on the shaft 36, all four of these gears being of the same di ameter. The rim of the disk 34'is turned inwardly to close the opening in the machine frame through which the shafts project. The segment gear 32 is oscillated about the aXis of the shaft 36 by a segment gear 44 formed on the upper end of the lever 46 and meshing with the gear 32. This lever is fulcrumed on a stud 48 projecting from the machine frame, and is slotted at its lower end to receive a roll 50 mounted on a stud 52 that projects eccentrically from a gear 54. The gear 54 is driven by a pinion The rotary motion of the motor is transmitted through the connections just described to the gear 54, causing the stud 52 to oscillate the lever 46 about its fulcrum and, consequently, to oscillate the segment gear 32 about the axis of the shaft 36. It will be evident that, when the gear 32 is oscillated, it will carry the shaft 30 bodily about the axis of the shaft 36; and that the gears 40, meshing with the stationary gears 42, will cause the shaft 30 to rotate on its own axis. In other words, the shaft 30 and the die 2 will be given a planetary motion. It will be clear also that, if the faces of the dies 2 and 4 are formed in the arcs of circles .of the same diameter as the pitch circle of the gears 40 and 42, then the upper die 2 will merely roll upon the lower die 4. I prefer, however, to make the face of the die 2 on a smaller radius than the radius of the pitch circle of the gears 40 and 42 and to make the die 4 on a larger radius. Consequently as the die 2 rocks over the surface of the die 4, it will slip relatively to the latter die; and when a piece of stock is placed between the dies, the upper die, in addition to rolling over the stock and pressing it into the creases in the lower die, will also subject the stock to a rubbing action.

The dies 2 and 4 are each made byturning a ring of the required dimensions and forming in the periphery of the ring grooves of the proper shape and size to make the desired impression upon the vamp. These rings later are cut up into sections of a size suitable to the size of the shoe upon which they are to operate. The sum of the radii of any pair of dies is equal to the radius of the arc in which the shaft 30 oscillates, as will be evident from Fig. 1. The upper die 2 is removably secured to the shaft 30 by means of a collar 62 (see Fig. 2) which is fastened on to the shaft by a set screw. A short bar 64 is attached to and projects from the lower side of this collar in a direction parallel to the shaft 30. The die has its inner face grooved to receive a short plate 66 which is fastened thereto by a screw. This plate has a slotted end extending beyond the end of the die and a screw 68, projecting through this slot and threaded into the'bar 64, serves to clamp the plate 66, and with it the die 2, securely to the collar 62. The slot in the plate 66 permits an adjustment of thedie 2 in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft 30 for the purpose of positioning the ridges of the die 2 opposite the grooves in the die 4. The die 4 is removably secured to the born 6 by a slotted plate 70 and a screw 7 2 projecting through the slot and threaded into the end of the horn. This arrangement permits an adjustment of the die 4 similar to that of the die 2.

It will be understood, of course, that the length of the creases formed in the vamp should be varied to suit the style and size of the shoe. This object is accomplished by adjusting the extent of the oscillating or rolling motion of the die 2 over the die 4; although if the change in length is considerable it probably will be necessary also to substitute a larger or smaller set of dies. Provision, therefore, is made in the machine shown for adjusting the eccentricity of the stud 52 in the gear 54. For this purpose the stud is mounted in a circular disk 74 which is set into a correspondingly shaped recess formed eccentrically in one face of the gear 54. A screw 76 holds the disk in the gear and enables it to be moved into different angular positions relatively thereto. The periphery of the disk is notched as indicated at 7 8 and the gear is provided with a spring pressed latch 80, designed to enter any one of the notches 7 8 to hold the disk in any desired angular relationship to the gear. These notches, for convenience, may be numbered to correspond to the sizes of the various sets of dies used. The center of the gear 54 is indicated at C, Fig. 3. It will be evident from an inspection of this figure that the eccentricity of the stud 52 with relation to the gear 54 is least when the latch 80 is in engagement with the notch numbered 1, and that the eccentricity is greatest when the latch 80 is in the notch numbered 10. The travel of the power driven die over the stationary die, of course, varies directly with the degree of the eccentricity of the stud 52; and by the adjustment just described the throw of the die 2 and, consequently, the length of the crease formed in the work, can be varied at the will of operator.

The dies preferably are electricallv heated. For the purpose of heating the die 2, the shaft 30 is made hollow to receive a heating resistance element or unit 82 and a pair of lead wires therefor. These wires extend through the shaft and are connected at the rearward end of the shaft, one to a slip ring 84, and the other to a slip ring 86, both of said rings being fixed to the shaft and insulated from each other and from the shaft. Current is carried to the slip ring 84 by two contacts 88, (see Fig. 3) both projecting from a ring 90 and bearing upon opposite sides of the ring 84. A similar pair of contacts, one of which is indicated at 92 in Fig. 1, project from a ring 94 and bear upon opposite sides of the slip ring 86. The rings 90 and 94 are insulated from each other and from a hub to which they are fixed, the hub being free to rotate upon the stationary shaft 36. Current is conducted to these rings by two contact rods 96 and 98, bearing respectively against the rings 90 and 94. These rods are supported respectively in blocks of insulating mate rial 100 and 102, which are loosely mounted on rods 104 and 106, )rojecting from opposite sides of the machine frame. A spring 107 having its ends connected to two pins that depend from the blocks 100 and 102 tends to turn the blocks upon their rods in a direction to press the rods 96 and 98 in contact with the slip rings 90 and 94. By the arrangement just described the electrical connection between the resistance unit 82 and the contact members 96 and 98 is not disturbed by the motion of the shaft- 30. Both of the supporting rods 104 and 106 have threaded thereunto clamping nuts 108 and 110, respectively, which serve to clamp the blocks 100 and 102 against movement when the rods 96 and 98 have been moved out of contact with their respective slip rings.

The stationary die 4 is heated by a resistance unit 112, similar to the unit 82, that is positioned in an aperture 114 drilled longitudinally of the horn 6, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A groove 116 formed in the back of the horn 6 communicates with the aperture 114 and provides a convenient location for the conductors 118 that lead from the unit 112. This groove 116 normally is closed by a cover 120. The two conductors 118 lead respectively to opposite binding posts on a block 122 of fiber or other insulating material that is fastened to the shank of the horn.

The electric current is carried to the machine by a pair of conductors leading directly to opposite terminals of an electric lamp 123, which is supported on the head of the machine frame and serves as an indicating device to show when the current is turned on. From the lamp a pair of leads go to the motor 60 through a switch 124. From one side of the lamp a wire 126 is connected to one of the leads 118 of the resistance unit 112, while another wire 128 leads to the contact rod 96. From the other side of the lamp 123 a wire 130 is connected to a rheostat 132 and two wires lead from the other side of the rheostat, respectively, to the contact rod 98 and to the other terminal 118 of the resistance element 112. The two resistance elements 82 and 112, therefore, are in parallel with each other, but are in series with the rheostat 132. It will be understood, of course, that this arrangement may be modified to suit different conditions.

In operating upon some kinds of leather it will be desirable to heat only the lower die and, in such cases, the heat may be cut off from the upper die by moving the contact rods 96 and 98 out of engagement with their respective rings 90 and 94 and clamping them in this position by means of the nuts 108 and 110, as above described.

In using the machine, the current is turned on to one or both of the dies as the character of the work may require and the motor is then started by turning the switch 12 1. Assuming the horn 6 to be in its lowered position, the workman places a shoe over the horn, bringing the die a under the vamp between the toe cap and the throat of the vamp. He then depresses the treadle 28, lifting the horn and the shoe into the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1, and pressing the vamp yieldingly between the dies 2 and 1. The die 2 will be rocked over the vamp in the manner above described and simultaneously will be caused to rub the vamp; thus working the leather firmly into the creases in the faces of the dies and setting the stock to the form of the dies. Since a comparatively small portion of the stock is under operation at any given instant, only a relatively light pressure upon the dies is necessary in order to subject the stock to a severe crimping or creasing action; while the rapid shifting of the point of operation of the dies back and forth over the vamp prevents burning the leather, even when the dies are heated to a temperature that would injure the stock if they were allowed to remain in contact with it for any substantial length of time.

If desired a switch may be connected in series with one or both of the conductors 118 that lead to the heating resistance 112 so that the workman may control the flow of current to either heating resistance independently of the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a normally stationary die, a movable die arranged to cooperate with said stationary die, and means for moving said movable die relatively to the stationary die to subject the work positioned between the dies to a rubbing action and for giving the movable die an additional movement to transfer the point of operation of the dies along the work.

2. A machine of the class described. comprising a pair of cooperating dies relatively movable to engage the work, in combination with means for relatively moving said dies while in contact with the work to subject the work to a rubbing action and for giving the dies an additional relative movement to transfer the point of operation of the dies along the work.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies relatively movable to engage the work, means for relatively moving said dies while in contact with the work to subject the work to a rubbing action and simultaneously to transfer the point of operation of the dies over the work, and means for varying the extent of therelative travel of said dies upon the work.

1. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a normally stationary die, a cooperating movable die, and means for giving the latter die a combined rocking and rubbing movement over the stationary die.

5. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a stationary die, a cooperating movable die, means for caus ing the latter die to rock over the stationary die and simultaneously to slip relativelyto said stationary die in the plane of said rocking movement, and means for varying the extent of the rocking movement of said die.

6. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a, die having a grooved face to engage the work, a second die'having a convexly curved face grooved to cooperate with the first die, and means for producing simultaneously a relative rubbing and rocking motion of said dies in the plane ofthe grooves in said dies.

7. A machine of the class described, comprising a normally stationary die having a grooved convexly curved face, a second die having a convexly curved face grooved to cooperate with the first die, means for causing the second die to rock over the face of the first die along the grooves therein and simultaneously to slip relatively to the face of the first die, and means for varying the extent of said rocking motion.

8. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies, a shaft supporting one of said dies, means for oscillating said shaft bodily about the other die, and means for simultaneously turning said shaft upon its axis.

9. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies, a shaft supporting one of said dies, means for oscillating said shaft bodily about the other die, means for simultaneously turning said shaft upon its axis, and means for varying the extent of said oscillating movement.

10. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of dies having their acting faces curved in arcs of unequal radii, a shaft on which one of said dies is fixed, means for oscillating said shaft bodily about the other die in an arc having a radius equalto the sum of the radii of the dies, and means for simultaneously turning said shaft on its axis.

11. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies each having its acting face curved in the arc of a circle, a shaft on which one of said dies is fixed, a pair of gears fast on said shaft, a second pair of stationary gears supported in alinement with each other, and means for oscillating said shaft about the axis of said stationary gears while the first pair of gears mesh therewith.

1:2. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies each having its acting face curved in the arc of a circle, a shaft supporting one of said dies, a segment gear supporting said shaft and mounted for oscillating movement about a fixed axis parallel to said shaft, a pair of stationary gears supported in alinement with said axis, a pair of gears fast on said shaft meshing with said stationary gears, a lever having a gear section meshing with said segment gear, a rotating device having an eccentric stud arranged to oscillate said lever, and means whereby the degree of eccentricity of said stud may be varied.

13. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of cooperating dies, a shaft supporting one of said dies, means for oscillating said shaft bodily about the other die and for simultaneously turning said shaft on its axis, said means comprising a rotary member, a disk eccentrically mounted on said member and adjustable relatively thereto, means for holding said disk in adjusted position, a stud projecting from said disk and a lever arranged to be oscillated by said stud.

14;. A machine of the class described, comprising in combination, a driven die, a cooperating normally stationary die, a horn supporting the latter die, means supporting said horn for movement to carry the stationary die into and out of operative relationship to the driven die, and manually controlled means for moving said horn.

15. In a machine of the class described, a horn arranged to support a removable die near its forward end, said horn having an aperture formed therein extending from a point adjacent to the rear end of the die backwardly longitudinally of the horn away from the die and open only at its rear end, said horn having a groove communicating with said aperture and extending backwardly longitudinally of the horn away from said aperture, a heating resistance supported in said aperture, and conductors leading from said resistance and positioned in said groove.

16. A machine of the class described, comprising a normally stationary die, a 00- operating movable die, means for moving the latter die to cause it to rub the work and simultaneously to shift its point of operation over the work, a heating resistance for said movable die, and means including sliding connections for conducting current to said. resistance.

17. A machine of the class described. comprising in combination, a normally stationary die, a movable die cooperating therewith, a hollow shaft supporting the latter die, means for oscillating said shaft bodily about the other die and for simultaneously turning said shaft about the other die and for simultaneously turning said shaft upon its axis, a heating resistance for said movable die, supply conductors for said resistance positioned in said shaft, slip rings on said shaft to which said conductors are connected, contact devices bearing against said slip rings, and means including sliding connections for conducting current to said contact devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. HANSEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MCCREADY, WILLIAM B. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

